The number of state schools dumping GCSEs in favour of tougher IGCSE exams
modelled on the old O-level has soared more than four-fold in just two
years, figures show.

Almost 1,200 schools adopted the “International GCSE” in at least one subject this year amid fears the traditional version fails to stretch the brightest pupils.

Examiners insisted that many schools favoured the qualifications in academic disciplines such as English, maths, science and foreign languages.

The rise – revealed in figures published by two major exam boards – follows a Government decision to scrap rules imposed under Labour that effectively barred state schools from offering them as an alternative to normal GCSEs.

IGCSEs have been popular in private schools for many years but the latest data shows that entries in the independent sector have also soared since 2010, with numbers up by more than half.

Supporters claim the qualification is more rigorous than GCSEs because pupils take all exams at the end of the two-year course – instead of breaking it up into a series of bite-sized modules.

Cambridge International Examinations, one of the two boards offering IGCSEs, insisted its "linear" structure was popular with schools.

Peter Monteath, UK schools manager, said: “The feedback we are getting from schools is that they like the flexibility of these syllabuses, which gives teachers more scope to explore different topics with students.

“Their linear structure also gives students space and time to study topics in depth.”

IGCSEs are run by CIE and the Edexcel exam board.

According to figures, the two boards collectively set the exams for almost 250 state schools in 2010, but this soared to 1,170 by 2012.

In the independent sector, the number of schools taking IGCSEs in at least one subject increased from 630 in 2010 to almost 980 this year. However, the true figure may be slightly lower as some schools could take IGCSEs with both boards.

CIE reported a big increase in demand for subjects such as English language and English literature, as well as history, biology, foreign languages and maths.

It is believed the popularity is being driven by the Government's introduction of the English Baccalaureate – a new school leaving certificate that rewards performance in the traditional subjects of English, maths, science, a foreign language and either history or geography.

The figures emerged just weeks after it was revealed that the Government plans to scrap GCSEs altogether and introduce a new generation of O-level style qualifications.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "Two years ago ministers lifted the ban that had prevented state schools from giving their pupils the chance to leave school with the same set of qualifications as their peers from the top private school pupils.

"It is excellent that hundreds of schools are now taking advantage of the freedoms given them."